Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder ─ Evidence-Based and Disorder-Specific Treatment Techniques

Social phobia, or social anxiety disorder, is among the most common (and debilitating) of the anxiety disorders, and at any given time it effects somewhere between 3 and 5% of the US population, with similar statistics found in countries around the world. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been demonstrated to be the most effective form of treatment for social phobia, but research has shown that conventional CBT principles and general interventions fall short of the mark. With this in mind, Hofmann and Otto have composed an organized treatment approach that includes specifically designed interventions to strengthen the relevant CBT strategies. This volume builds upon empirical research to address the psychopathology and heterogeneity of social phobia, creating a series of specific interventions with numerous case examples.

Stefan G. Hofmann, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the Department of Psychology at Boston University and the director of the social anxiety program at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders. Hofmann is co-president of the Anxiety Disorders Special Interest Group of the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy (AABT).

Michael W. Otto, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Clinical Psychology Program at Boston University. He sits on the scientific advisory board of the Anxiety Disorders Association of American (ADAA), and is President-Elect (2004-2005) of the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy. Dr. Otto is a fellow of the American Psychological Association and he serves as a section editor for Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, and on the editorial boards of Anxiety, Behavior Research and Therapy, Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, Journal of Anxiety Disorders, Journal Watch in Psychiatry, and Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics.

Description of Disorder. Overall Description of Treatment Strategy. Session by Session Interventions. Research Basis. Clinical Cases. Complicating Factors. Maintenance and Follow-up Strategies.